As salaam alaikum Reader,

I pray this message finds you well.
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Have you ever heard the Hadith about not praying for patience ? It goes something like this …

from Mu‘aadh ibn Jabal who said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) heard a man saying: O Allah, I ask You for patience. He said: “You have asked Allah for calamity; rather ask Him for well-being.”

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Now my understanding is this about praying for patience outside of a calamity. As we know Allah speaks quite highly of the attribute of Sabr (patience) very very often in the Quran. And Allah knows best.
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But this had me thinking…sometimes we are praying for the wrong thing. Or rather looking towards a solution that isn’t really the right fit.
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We might be praying, for example, for strength… when what we actually need more of is mercy and love.
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I feel this especially in dealing with children. We may believe our opening or ease will come if only we direct or control their time more, are more serious with them, or have the strength or patience to ‘deal’ with them.
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But maybe that’s not what we need. Perhaps our opening will come with more mercy for them. More kindness towards them. More belief in Allah regarding them.
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If there’s anywhere in your life you are feeling blocked , I invite you to explore another road, another path, and pray for something else.
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Perhaps what you need is not more control, but more trust.
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It could be what you need is more kindness not necessarily more communication.
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You might need more trust in the process and not more information.
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Whatever it is ask Allah for an expansive open heart that is ready to be led forth and turned in the direction most pleasing to Him.
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May Allah increase us all in good.
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Wa salaam alaikum

Makeda

PS- Islamic Gratitude Planners & Spiritual Development Coaching available.